/meets. 163 



ail oblique line from the tegula3 to the collar, a spot under each wing, 

 two on the scutellum, with a narrow line under each, yellow ; all the 

 femora black, yellow towards their apex ; all the tibiae yellow, with 

 generally a rufous or black spot behind the anterior and intermediate ; 

 terminal joints of the tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen yellow, with a 

 black band at the base of all the segments, the first band dentate in 

 the centre, the rest with a black dot on each side, sometimes separate 

 and sometimes united to one, two, or all the bands, fomiing denta- 

 tions. Length 10 lines. 



Sometimes the first segment has three triangular spots at its base, 

 the central one being the largest, and the remaining segments have a 

 black band, with separated or united spots. This variety is the Vespa 

 germanica of Panzer. In some individuals the basal band is slightly 

 interrupted, forming an intermediate variety. 



Neuter. — Length 5 J to 7 lines. Head precisely as in the female, 

 admitting of the same variations in the markings on the clypeus. The 

 thorax is the same as in the female, with the addition of two large 

 ovate spots on the post-scutellum, making six, the two upper and the 

 two lower being largest. The legs as in the female. The abdomen 

 varies greatly in its markings. Var. 1. has three spots at the base of the 

 first segment, a black band dentate in the centre at the base of the 

 other segments, with a separated black dot on each side. Var. 2. has 

 the three spots on the first, and the black dots united to the bands, 

 forming dentations on the remaining segments. Var. 3. has a black 

 band, dentate in the centre, at the base of the first segment, the rest 

 with tridentate bands. Other intermediate varieties w^ill be found, but 

 the three described are those usually met with. 



The Male is 7 — 8j lines in length. It varies greatly. Var. 1. is 

 the Vespa saxonica of Litm. Fab. and Panzer. Head black, clypeus 

 yellow, with a black line down the centre having an anchor-shaped 

 termination, or with a simple line, or three spots placed at right an- 

 gles ; a crown-shaped spot at the base of the antennae, with sometimes 

 a small black dot in the centre ; a line on each side of the eyes yel- 

 low ; the mandibles are yellow, their tips black ; antennae with the 

 scape yellow in front. Thorax black, a line fi'om the tegulae to the 

 collar, a spot under each wing, two on the scutellum, with a narrow 

 line under each, yellow. Legs yellow, with the basal half of the 

 thighs black. The abdomen has a black band, dentate in the centre, 

 at the base of the first segment, the rest have a broad tridentate band 

 at their base, except the apical one, which is unidentate. Var. 2, 

 Head and thorax same as in var. 1 . The abdomen has a black band 



M 2 



